Teething ring



July 11, 1950 E COHEN 2,514,844

` TEETHING RING Filed Aug. 4, 1949 I N VEN TOR.

Patented July 11,` 1950 UNITED l, STATES PATENT OFFICE `TEETHING RING= Esther Cohen, Washington, D. C. e Application August 4, 1949, Serial No. 108,539

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in aids for the teething of infants and more particularly to a teething ringpthe primary object of the invention beingtor'provide-a device `of this character which is provided with a coolant.

vA further object of the invention resides in the provision of means in a teething ring for containing ice or other coolant.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a teething ring which is so constructed that elements may be removed therefrom` for the introductionof the* coolant.

'A still further object of theinvention resides in providing a teething ring formed of plastic material of` sufficient rigidity to carry out the purposes for which the device is designed and yet `of sufficient resiliency to permit a bite thereon without injury to the gums. z

Still another object of the invention resides in providing a device which is simple and durable I in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very` efficient vand useful in operation. i l

With these and numerous other objects in view,

my invention consists in the Y,novel features of construction, combination 'and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter` andmore particularly set forth. y

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application 4 Claims. loins-'359) l the drawing in which similar reference charac- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a, teething n ring constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, with parts broken away, showing the internal structure of the ring with ice in the various compartments;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal. sectional view through the device, as seen on the line 3-3, of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a slightly modified form of the invention, with the cover ring removed;

`Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the arcuate containers removed from the ring shown in Figure 4 Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan View of a further modification of the invention, with the cover ring removed; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts broken away and parts in section, of the tubular member adapted for use in connection with the modification shown in Figure 6.

It is a known fact that during the teething period of an infant, the gums of a child are sore and inflamed. Teething rings are provided to ters `designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which the numeral l designates an annular member or ring formed of plastic or other similar material, said ring being hollowed-out at spaced intervals to provide therein a series of compartments 2. The top of this vannulus or ring member I is open, as shown in Figure 2, and a cover ring 3 of transparent plasticv material is provided therefor which has the inner periphery thereof threaded to engage a threaded portion at the upper edge of the inner periphery of the ring member I, as shown at 4.

Thiscover ring 3 is providedwith a nger piece 5 so that it may be turned home or removed readily when desired.

Formed 'integral with the member I and extending radially therefrom is the solid handle member 6. While I have shown a straight handle member, it will be understood that this handle may take any form or shape desired.

In the compartments 2 of the ring member I yI prefer to introduce chopped ice, designated in the drawing by the numeral 1. After the ice is placed in these compartments, the cover ring 3 is applied tightly and the device is ready for use. Obviously, the chopped ice within the ring member I I will aid in cooling the inflamed gums of the child biting on this device. Even after the ice has melted the water in the compartments will remain cool for a reasonable length of time. There will be little or no leakage of the Water from this device in View of the tight t between the ring member I and the cover ring 3, but if desired and found necessary a gasket or the like may be provided to prevent any leakage whatsoever.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the ring member Ia. is formed hollow, that is designed with an annular trough. Fitted within the trough are a plurality of removable arcuate receptacles 2a, in which may be introduced chopped ice, ice water or any other coolant. In this form of the 3 device, it will be seen that the receptacles may be removed and filled with the coolant, Without their handling the ring member in its entirety. If desired, the arcuate receptacles 2a may be eliminated and the chopped ice, ice Water or other coolant introduced directly in the trough of the ring member. In this connection I have shown in Figure 6 the ring member la with the trough lb formedtherein Aand no receptacles provided. While this'llligure fisshown in connection-with :a further modification, to be hereinafter described, it is understood that this form of ring Athe user finds it more desirable, for any reason whatsoever, not to utilize the separate contain- -ers 2a, the ring member la may'beusedfvto-receive -directly the cooling agent, Whatever it may be. It will be understood, of course, that in'theuse -of the forms of the invention shown in Figures 4and1`6y there is'also used a cover ring such as the ring 3, 'heretofore'described and shown in Figures 1 to l3 inclusive.

`In 'Figure '7 'I have shown afurther rnodiication of the invention wherein a tubular member tl lis provided, the same being-formed of vplastic orYo'f-a materialsuch as rubber or'the like, and `lle'd\vith Water or any other liquid desired. This tubular member'with its liquid may be placedin a refrigerator so that'thecontents are cooled, whereupon it may be placed in the trough Ib ofthe-ring'member la. After'the cover ring is applied, the 'device Vvvill'then be ready'for use. When the ring member'has lostits low temperature, same maybe removed'vand replacedby another cold ring Vmember or tube 18. Obviously, the tube 8 is ofthe samediameter as the ring rmember la and of `a size to vfit properly within 4theftrough lb and as many ksuch tubes 8 maybe -providedas are desired.

=While` havedescribed-the device .as being adaptedffor usewith chopped ice or ice water, insofar Vas Figuresl to6are concerned, .and the use of water inthe tube shown in Figure 7,.it will fbe understood that otherforms of cooling agents -maybe used, if found desirable.

From the foregoing description of the `construction o'fzmyfimproved'teethingring, the applicaftion thereof touse will be readily understood and -itwill be seen that 5I have provided a comparatively simple,` inexpensive and eicientmeansffor carrying outthe various objects ofy the invention.

While v.T 'have particularly described the elements best adapted i toperform thel functions .set

4 forth, it is apparent that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the principles of the invention.

As aforesaid, the cover ring 3 is preferably made of transparent plastic material. Thus, the nurse or the mother caring for the infant may readily observe when the ice in the ring has reached a Furthermore, it will be noted that the handle .,member 6 of the ring is described as being made :member is the same as the ring member used in `the modification shown in Figure 4.' Thus,-=whenv Nof solid material. By being made in this manner, fthegiced and cold condition of the ring proper will not affect the infants hands holding this teething'device.

`Having.thusndescribed the invention, what is claimed is:

lnfa teething device, a ring member, said ring member being provided with a plurality of open-'topped'compartments-.adapted to receive a cooling "agent therein, and a removable ringshapedcover for saidring member.

2. lnfa teething` device,.a ring member formed 4with :ranzannular i trough, 1a .plurality of arcuate Areceptacles adapted to .beatted in'said trough and adapted to .receive 2a 'cooling agent and a ringfshaped cover removablyzengaged with said ring member.

3. In a teethingdevice.v ai ring member formed on its upper'face Iwithxan annular trough, a plurality of-arcuate trough-like receptacles adapted .to be lfitted in thetroughbf said ring member to forma series of compartments'therein, said receptacles' being adapted to receive a cooling agent, and 'aring-shapedcover member removably engaged. with said ring member.

r'REFERENCES CITED The following lreferences are of record in the le of this patent:

vUNAI IED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 535,054 Dessau Mar. 5, 1895 Newmark June 3, 194.7 

